A student who began working as a high-class escort to fund her master’s degree
has been ordered to repay more than £174,000 in unpaid tax and costs or go
to jail.

Donna Asutaits, 30, earned up to £1,000 a night and received expensive jewellery from some of her wealthy businessman clients. She began working as an escort at the age of 22 to finance her studies at the University of Westminster in London, making more than £300,000 without paying any tax.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London, Judge Peter Testar made an order under the 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act for her to repay £120,000 owed in tax plus £54,243 in costs. At an earlier hearing, the court was told that in 2007, the “naive” student was able to put down a £110,000 deposit on a £360,000 apartment in London’s upmarket Knightsbridge area.

When police raided her home they found £73,000 in cash, together with a collection of valuable jewellery.

Jonathan Polnay, prosecuting, had told Southwark Crown Court that Asutaits had failed to file tax returns for most of her working career and had cheated the Exchequer out of £120,000 between 2005 and 2007.

Asutaits, who was jailed for 16 months in July last year after admitting one count of cheating the public revenue, must now pay back £174,243 in the next three months or serve two and a half years in jail.

Mr Polnay told Southwark Crown Court last year: “This defendant was working for years as an escort and in that job she received significant sums of money. To give an example of this, she put a deposit on her flat on Brompton Road. This deposit, of £110,000, was paid in cash by the defendant, so clearly that money was available as profit and available as cash.

“In addition, in relation to another investigation, police carried out a search of her property and found £72,702 in cash. High-value jewellery was found.

“When this defendant was arrested in relation to this matter in November 2011, a further £6,200 in cash was found.”

When Asutaits was arrested she read out a prepared statement in which she said she had been a self-employed escort for about 10 years and that she was often paid in cash and received valuable jewellery in gifts, the court was told.

Judge Testar said at the latest hearing: “I am told about extensive talks between the parties and it is thought that a fair resolution has been agreed.

“I am told that the amount that would be regarded in benefit is £173,234 and so that amount will be paid to the Treasury and will no doubt be disposed of in various ways.”

Asutaits, who was in the public gallery for the hearing, is still being investigated for tax evasion, the court heard.

Stan Reiz, defending, said she was planning to sell her Knightsbridge flat to help pay the confiscation order.

Last year, he said: “It is lamentable that any young woman should have to come to London and do this kind of work in order to support herself.

“Her family have been embarrassed by these proceedings, not only because of the offence but because they didn’t know she was working as an escort in the first place.

“The criminal offence was committed in naivety on her part, as she was only 22 when this started.

“Since this has been hanging over her, she has suffered from depression and insomnia and has taken illicit drugs, and has dropped out of her master’s degree.”

Asutaits has previously denied accusations of money laundering and using deception to obtain her mortgage after pretending to be a racing consultant. Those charges were left to lie on file following last year’s prosecution.